Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
The Slaves of La La Land—and South Los Angeles
The brilliant new film musical La La Land is being celebrated as a love letter to Los Angeles. But the darker heart of the movie lies in a brief and devastating critique of Southern California, delivered by the jazz pianist played by Ryan Gosling.
“That’s L.A.,” he tells his lover, an aspiring actress played by Emma Stone. “They worship everything and they value nothing.”
There has been no better recent summary of the California struggle—with the very notable exception of the 2015 novel, The Sellout, whose author Paul Beatty recently became the first American to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction. (more…)
Riding the Budget Tiger
Forget about the budget proposal introduced by Gov. Jerry Brown yesterday. The budget plan that will matter is the revised version issued in May–even more than usual–after we learn more about the economy and plans from the new Trump Administration, both of which could have major impacts on the budget.
The economy, which has shown some signs of weakening, is one factor that will become clearer in five months. And, major jolts to the budget could come depending on steps the new administration in Washington takes regarding health care and immigration issues.
The number of times the governor and reporters used a variation of the word “uncertain” in referring to the budget piled up during Brown’s press conference to introduce the budget. (more…)
Schwarzenegger Suggests a Way to Battle Trump
Has Arnold figured out how to counter The Donald?
Trump, via Twitter, went after the Governator last week—dissing him for the low ratings of the first episode in which Schwarzenegger took over for Trump on “Celebrity Apprentice.”
“Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got “swamped” (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine, DJT,” Trump tweeted, adding. “So much for being a movie star-and that was season 1 compared to season 14. Now compare him to my season 1. But who cares, he supported Kasich & Hillary.”
Trump’s Twitter attacks have cowed big media and major manufacturers, and created all sorts of headaches for all sorts of people who were attacked, particularly as Trump-loving hordes savage them on social media. Fighting back against Trump hasn’t worked. Ignoring Trump hasn’t worked. Acknowledging Trump is right only keeps the bullying president-elect going. (more…)
Small Business Reacts to Governor Brown’s Budget Announcement
Small business owners have been among the few voices to insist that the State of California is on the verge of an economic downturn, and today Governor Brown only affirmed this sentiment. The compounding pressures of a $15 state minimum wage, protected leave mandates, and mounting environmental regulations have all caused small business owners great anxiety, which puts a drag on hiring and economic growth. In the face of a $2 billion budget deficit, our focus should be on supporting small business to grow the economy to sustainably improve the health of our state finances.
Transportation, affordable housing, and cap-and-trade revenues are all issues that greatly impact the day-to-day operations of small business owners. The Governor has called on the Legislature to send him tax increases on drivers to fund transportation projects. Our small business members know the state budget has existing transportation dollars, which should be used to fix our roads rather than further taxing small businesses and working families. (more…)
LA May be Forced to Borrow Millions to Make Lawsuit Payments
Despite General Fund revenues being up by over $1 billion since Eric Garcetti became our Mayor, the City Administrative Officer indicated in a January 6 memo that the “combined potential deficit [for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017] currently stands at $245 million.”
You have to be kidding. A billion bucks and these jokers cannot balance the budget.
The budget is being hammered by higher than anticipated expenditures and lower than expected revenues. But there are not many real operational solutions since the Mayor, the Personnel Committee headed by Paul Koretz, and the City Council are not even willing to considering laying off or furloughing unionized employees who represent the bulk of City budget expenditures. (more…)
It’s Getting Crowded At The Top
“Is that all?”
That’s my guess as what would be the modal response from budget pressure groups, disappointed at the Governor’s less than fulsome funding of various spending programs released in today’s proposed 2017-18 state budget.
Uncertainty about the economy, about federal tax policy, and most importantly about taxpayer behavior, supports a prudent approach from the Governor.
More than ever, the fate of California’s spending plan is in the hands of relatively few taxpayers. (more…)